Improvement in tug attachments for harness



Uivrlfni) STATES PATENT omet.

DAVID w. BnoDNAx, on ROGKDALE, TEXAS.

IMPRovEMEN-r IN 'ruenTrncHwlEN-rsl FoR HARNESS.

` Specicationforming pai-tof Letters Patent No. 186,457, dated January23, 1877; application filed November 3, 14876.- l

1 0 all whom itmay concertar Beit known that I, DAVID W. BRoDNAx, ofRockdale, in the county of Milam and State of Texas, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Tug Attachments and I 1 do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionjof theinvention, `such as will enable others skilledin the art to which itpertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings,

` which forni part of this specication.

My invention relates to harness, and more especially to attachments forconnecting the short hame-tug with the draft-trace, though the same isapplicable to any and all parts of a harness which are to be relativelyengaged,

and my improvement be thus used in substitution of the old and commonswiu ging tonguebuckle. The object in view is to provide astrap-engaging mechanism, constructed of a supporting-plate and rigidprojecting pins, with a locking device, whereby the connecting `partsmay both be secured together, and also given an ornamental appearance.

My invention consists in the combination, with a metal plate providedwith right-angular studs rigidly secured to its face, of a strap lockingplate, the latter constructed of dimen y sions counterpart to theformer, whereby the engaging parts are both retained in place, and alsoconcealed from view.

In the drawings, Figure l represents'a part of a harness provided withmy improvement,

length, so as to admit ofthe easy engagement, and secure retention ofthe latter, one with another,'by means of the protruding dewelpins orembossed `studs a a, rigidly secured to one face of this main plate.These latter studs are formed in transverse central line,

approximately nearpthe ends of the plate, one `at either extremity, andproject sufficientlyV out at right angles to the plate for the engagingpurposes, as appears in the followingdescription: Theyare provided withswivellatches `b b at' their outer extremities `forengagin g with thelocking-plate, as also appears in further description.

B are looped catches or ring devices, connected at top, bottom,and rearedges,`respect at its central end extremities c c counterpart to thestuds on the main plate, and adapted to receive said studs, with theirswivel-catches, which latter are 'then turned so that they may notregister with that eccentric part ofthe slots c c through which theyfound entrance, and thus lock the two plates together. Thislocking-plate may have its exposed faces plated with gold or silver, orin any way burnished or ornamented, so as. to imparta pleasingappearance to same, and cover the otherwise unsightly exposure of theengaging mechanism.

The improvement is applied to harness by iirst inserting the plate Abetween the layers or leaves of the short haine-tug D, the outer layeror horizontal section of the latter being punctured or perforated toadmit the passage of the studs on the face of the plate next adjacent tosame. The several layers are then stitched together, as usual, thusbinding in with same this supporting plate, interleaved With same at therear end o f the tug. The forward end of the trace E is then secured tothe tug by means ot' suitable holes in the traceengaging with the studson the main plate. The locking-platel is then put overthese parts, andattached to same by the "latches, -adj ustable ou the outer extremitiesof the studs. The harness is thus connected in a secure engagement,which allows of the strain being borne along an extended part of thetug-strap, and in different portions ot' the trace. The two studs causethe trace to be doubly attached to the plate, and thus ease tween thelayers of the tug causes the labor put upon same, to be equablydistributed throughoutthe" plates lengthof the tug.

By this construction the pieces of a harness are relatively securedwithout the many disadvantages attendant upon their engagementotherwise. The harness is improved and beau tifed in design, andthedifticultyrofiadjusting` and fastening the trace, experienced in theordinary swinging tongue-buckle, is obviated.

Fig. 4 shows, in modification, the disconnected parts of my improvement.change the minor feature of the fastenings of the-locking-plate, andhence make the studs-f of the main plate ot' shorter length, so1tl1atlpact up againsttheouter side of, the traceA and v studs. v

I here I may use loopsof. leather to, aid in connecti ing the partsofthe harness, itbeing apparentthat. loops such as are ordinarily in usewith the tug and trace attachments would not bev inappropriate inconnection with my foregoing-described improvement. It is apparente'thatthe main plate A may, if desired, be secured to one of the leaves ofthe tug, be-

tween which it is placed, by passing rivets through the plate andtheleaf, and heading them, so as to lock the two together.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as-vnew, and-desire tosecure by Letters Batent, is-

A tug attachment, consisting of the draftplate A, provided withprojecting studs, and a locking-plate, C, adapted to unite and se.-

purelyI hold the hanne-tugl and trace in position, all substantiallyasand, for the purpose stated. v

In testimony that. I claim the foregoingI have hereunto set my hand this27th day of October, 187 6..

DAVID W. BRODNAX., v Witnesses:

F. A. HILL,

GUY C. HINMAN..

